Gauge



C. G. SUTTON GAUGE April 26, 1938.

Filed Sept. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIIE J INVENTOR. (flak/9s 6.5L///0 /7 ATTORNEY.

- C. G, SUTTON April 26, 1938.

GAUGE Filed Sept. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAUGE Charles G.Sutton, Oakland, Calif.

Application September 14, 1935, Serial No. 40,589 l 11 Claims. (01. 33203) This invention relates to a device for analyzing the camber,caster, king pin slant or inclination, turning radius and other defectsin the front end assembly of motor vehicles.

The proper operation of a motor Vehicle such as tire wear, absence ofshimmying, and ease of steering, depends among other things uponmaintaining to factory specifications, all of the above characteristicsand with the advent of the so called knee action the importanceof thishas become morepronounced. One of the objects of this invention is theprovisionef a graduated arcuate spirit level gauge adapted to beadjustably fixed to the spindle of a dirigible wheel whereby its cambercan be directly read from the gauge.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a turning radiusplate and parallelogram assembly adapted to be secured to the spindle ofa dirigible wheel and by means of which the turning radius of adirigible wheel may be readily determined.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a graduated arcuatespirit level gauge in combination with a turning radius plate andparallelogram assembly by means of which the caster and king pin slantor inclination of a dirigible wheel may be directly determined. 1

Another object of the invention is the-provision of a king pin gaugeholder by means of which the king pin slant may be determined with theaxle removed from the vehicle. 7

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a springsaddle gauge holder which enables the determination of any misalignmentof opposed spring saddles.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which withthe foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following descriptionwhere that form of the invention which has been selected forillustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thepresent specification is outlined in full. In said drawings, one form ofthe invention is shown, but it is to be understood that it is notlimited to such form, since the invention as set forth in the claims maybe embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the right front wheel of an automobilewith the spirit level gauge, turning radius plate. and parallelogramassembly, spindle extension and ring clamp forming the objects of myinvention in theiroperative position when making a camber determination.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the spirit level gauge, turning radiusplate and parallelogram assembly, spindle extension and ring clamp.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 44 of Figure 2. r IFigure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5-of Figure 2.

"Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line fi 6ofwFigureI2showingthe bumper clamp in 10 elevation. a I V. i Figure7is a sideelevation partly in section of anaxle with a' king 'pingau'ge holder inits operative spositionJ I Figure 8 isfa perspective view of a springsaddle 15 gauge holder seated on a spring saddle.

Spirit leoel or gauge As best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5 my inventioncontemplates the use of a spirit level gauge comprising a pedestal Iprovided at its lower end with a flange 2, the lower face 3 of whichshould :be an accurately machined fiat surface. The upper face of theflange 2 is provided with a pair of right angularly disposed ridges orribs 4 and 5 by means of which the gauge may be definitely located orkeyed on its seatin either of two predetermined positions, onebeing atright angles toithe'other. .Integral with the pedestal l is acrossmember 6 provided with a central recess l and a'concentric bore 8.Pivotally secured to one end of the cross member 6 by means of a pin 9is an arcuate cross member I I within which is disposed an arcuatespirit level l2. The free end of the arcuate cross member H is forked orbifurcated so as to slidably accommodate the vertical guide member l3forming part of the cross member 6. Pivoted to the lowerface of thearcuate cross member H and depending into the bore 8 is a screw [4 onwhich is threaded a knurled nut l5. As shown in Figure 5 the knurled nut15 is held within the recess 7 by means of a plate !6 secured to theupper face of the cross member 6 and therefore by turning the nut thebubble of the spirit level may be made to traverse 45 its arcuate vial.The upper face of the arcuate cross member H is provided on either sideof the spirit level l2 with graduated scales l1 and I 8, and as bestshown in Figure 2 the scale I! reads from 0 to 9 while the scale isreads from 0 to 50 12. The fiducial marks 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 of the scaleI! register respectively with the fiducial marks 0, 3, 6, 8 and 12 ofthe scale It and therefore it will be seen that one scale equalstwothirds of the other. The freebifurcated end of ,The lower machinedface 3 of the spirit level pin receiving: a v

receivingslot 26 by means of which the sector gauge is adapted to seateither on a ring clamp, a king pin gauge holder or a spring saddle gaugeholder as will be described later.

Turning radius plate and parallelogram assembly For the purpose ofdetermining caster, king pin slant and turning radius, resort is had toa turning radius plate and parallelogram assembly which as showninFigures 1, 2, 4 and 5 comprising a sector. 2l' provided at its outer end22 with graduations reading fromO to 30 in both directions, andterminating at its innerend 23 in a downwardly extending bracket. Thebracket 24 is provided with an angularly disposed 'slot..25 and with anarcuate pin may be detachably locked to the ring'clamp to be describedlater. Pivoted to the axis' of the sector 2| by means of a pin or rivet21- is'a pointer 2B .the free end of which'is adapted to describean arcover. the graduated outer endof the sector. Pivoted to the pointer inspaced re.-. lation" are a pair of links 29 and 3| which'are maintainedalways in parallelism bymeans of a link 32 pivoted to their outer ends.It will there- \a fore be seen that the-pointer 28-formsrwith the 7links'29, 3i? and 32 a parallelogram. A second parallelogram is formedby means of links 33 and 34 pivoted to the link 32 and held inparallelism by means of a link 35 pivoted to the outer ends of the link33 and 34. The link 35 "is provided with a; slot 36 by means of which itmay be clamped between a thumbscrew 31 and nut 38.

. Welded to the'nut 38 substantially in the plane of I the parallelogramabove described is 'a rod or bar 39 terminating in a downwardlyextending leg 4 I, adapted to be threaded :thru a bumper clamp providedwith a thumbscrew '43 by means of which the clamp maybe secured to thebumper 44 or any suitable stationary support.

. Ring clamp The ring clamp above'referred to serves as a connection.between the wheel spindle or an extensionthereof, and the spirit levelgauge and/or turning radius plate and parallelogram assembly. The clampis best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, and comprises a ring 5| providedwith an upper stationary V-block52 and a lower slidable V-block 53. Theouter ends of the V-block 53 are bifurcatedor notched so as to slideover guide webs 54 and 55 formed integral with the ring 5|. Swiveled tothe base of the V-block 53 is a thumbscrew 56 which as shown in Figure 3is threaded thru the lower part of the ring 5 I, andtherefore serves 'toregulate the vertical position of. the lower .V-block with respect tothe upper stationary V-block 52. ,The upper part of the ring 51 isprovided with an accurately machined perfectly fiat surface 51 whichserves as a seat for the spirit level gauge above described. Secured tothe seat so formed is a bifurcated spring clip 58 adaptedto straddle thepedestal I, and provided with As shown in Figure 6 the bumper clamp is"spring clip 93.

legs of the channel should be ground true so that arcuate cross member II should be provided with a fiducialmark adapted to register with acorrecesses 59 adapted to engage the ribs 4 and 5, and to therefore lockthe spirit level gauge in either of two predetermined positions withrespe'ct to the ring clamp. As above stated one of these'positions is atright angles to the other so that the gauge locks either inparallelismwith the wheel spindle or at right angles thereto.

The outer face of the stationary upper /-block 52 is provided with apair of spaced headed studs BI and 62 by means of which the sector 2|may be locked orhung from the ring clamp as best shown in Figures 4 and'5.

Spindle: extension As above stated the ring clamp may be secured bymeans of the V-blocks 52 and 53 either directly 7 to the machinedsurface of a wheel spindle or indirectly thereto by means of a spindleextension. As shown in Figure 5 such an extension may comprise a tubularmember '51 upon which the ring clamp may be secured,terminating inavertical bracket 12 provided with'a central opening 13, by means ofwhich the extension may be tightly secured to the spindle and itsassociated bearing.

" King" pingauge holder 7 When checking twists and bends in the axlewith the axle removed from the car, it is dethe king .pin; comprises apin As shown in'Figure '7 this device 8| 'to the upper end of which issecured a cone 82 provided with an accurately '58 described inconnection with the ring clamp.

Slidably disposed on the lower end of the 'pin BI sirable to substitutea king pin gauge holder for is a cone 85 provided-with a thumbscrew 85by meansof which the cone 85 may be secured to' the pin in anypredetermined position. The cones 82 and 85 are adapted to seat inthe'king pin holes 81and 88 'ofthe axle 89 and due to their conical formnaturally assume a centered position.

Spring saddle gauge holder 1 Inaccuracies of alignment in the opposedspring platforms of a carmayibe readily detected by mounting the spiritlevel gauge on a spring saddle gauge holder such as shown in Figure 8,and which comprises a channel bar 9| provided'with an accuratelymachined surface-92 on which the pedestal'l of the spirit level gaugemay be seated, and secured thereto by means of the bifurcated The loweredges'34 and 95 of the the spirit level will give an accurate indicationof the alignment or misalignment of the spring ,p

saddle. Modifications v One of the essentials of this invention is thatthe spirit level gauge be at all times definitely located with respectto the axis of the wheel spindle, the axis of the king pin or the faceof the spring saddle. Obviously other connections between thespiritlevel gauge and the ring clamp, king pin gauge holder and springsaddle gauge holder can be resortedvto and still preserve thisrequirement. For example, a swivel connection can be made between thesemembers by providing a downwardly. extending tapered stud on the base ofthe spirit level gauge and tapered sockets in the ring clamp, king pingauge, holder and saddle spring gauge holder.v The spirit level could 75then be rotated to any desired position.

Relative motion between the sector of the turning radius plate and itsassociated pointer is required but instead of maintaining the-pointer inparallelism with a fixed reference line and causing the sector to rotateas' illustrated in the drawings and described above, the identicalreadings could be obtained by rigidly securing the pointer to thewheel'spinldle so as to rotate therewith and maintaining thesecto'r inparallel ism with a fixed reference 'lineby means of the parallelogramassembly. Y

Operation In making an analysis ofthe steering and front end assembly ofa motor-vehicle it is essential that the vehicle be placed on aperfectly level floor, and all tires correctly inflated. In cases whereone new tire and onevery badly worn are on the front wheels, an exchangeshould be made with one of the'back tires so asto obtain equal tirediameters, .or the new tire should be slightly deflated soas to obtainequal spindle heights. The right front wheel should then be set straightahead by sighting along the front and rear brake drums, the hub caps andspindle nuts removed and the grease wiped from the spindles and outerbearing surfaces. When this has been done spindle extensions should besecured to the spindles of both front wheels by means of the spindlenuts. Ring clamps can then be secured to the spindle extensions andspirit level gauges and parallelogram assemblies secured to each wheelin the position as shown in Figure 1 and 2. The spirit level gaugesshould be parallel with the spindle axis. The camber of the right wheelmay be read directly from its associated spirit level on the largegraduated scale IT. The camber of the left wheel may be determined inthe same manner by first setting the left wheel straight ahead.

7 To obtain a caster reading no change is made in the position of thegauges, but the right wheel is turned to the left through 20 and thenthe bubble of the spirit 'level adjusted to the zero mark by means ofthe knurled nut l 5. The wheel is then turned tothe right through 40,that is until the pointer 28 which, it should be noted, is maintained inparallelism with its initial position, by means of the parallelogramassembly. registers with the 20 mark at the front end of the sector. Inthis final position the caster of the right wheel is indicated directlyby the bubble of V the spirit level on the small scale l8. The caster ofthe left hand wheel may be determined in the same manner. 7

The procedure required for determining the king pin slant or inclinationis identical with the procedure with respect to determining the caster,except that the spirit level gauge is set at right angles to thespindle, with the zero mark of the gauge to the rear of the car. Withthe gauge in this position the right wheel is turned to the left through20 as indicated by the pointer, and then the bubble of the spirit leveladjusted to the zero position. The right wheel is then turned to theleft through 40 so that the pointer registers with the other 20 mark onthe sector. The bubble reading on the spirit level scale !8 will givethe king pin slant directly in-degrees.

To determine turning radius right, the right front wheel is lined upstraight ahead, in which position the turning radius pointer shouldregister with the zero degree mark of the sector. The right wheel isthen turned to the left through 20 and the pointer on the turning radiusplate associated with the left" hand wheel will' then give theturn'ingradius right, direct in degrees. Turning radius left may be determinedin a similar manner.

Each of the above determinations may be made inexactly the same manne'rwhen the front end of the car is jacked upand the wheels removed,

with the exception that the'ring clamp is secureddirectly to the wheelspindle instead of indirectly by means of the spindle extension.

Twists and bends-in an axle may be determined when the axle is removedfrom'the car by substituting the king pin gauge holder for the king pinas shown in 'Figure 'l, and securing the spirit level gauges in place bymeans of spring clips 84. The gauges on each end of the axle should beturned with'their zero degrees-toward the center of the axle andparallel thereto. The king pin slant is then read directly in degrees onthe scale II. By turning the spirit levels at right angles. to the axlewiththeir' zero degree marks pointing in the same direction thedifference in the readings of the two gauges will indicate any twistthat the axle may have. i

Misalignment between spring platforms may be determined by placing aspring saddle gauge on each of the opposed spring saddlesand securingthe spirit level gauges inf-place."

161mm} 1. A device for determining the caster and king pin slantof adir'igible wheel comprising: a graduated arcuate spirit levelgaugeprovided with,

means for adjustably securing it either parallel with a wheel spindle orat right angles there'tof a graduated turningradius plate adapted to befixed t0 said spindle and'having' a pointer swiveled thereto; and meansfor maintaining said pointer in parallelism with a fixed reference lineduring the rotation of said plate with the spindle. V

2. A device for determining thecaster and king pin slant of a dirigiblewheel comprising: a grad swiveled to said plate; and means formaintaining said pointer in parallelism with a fixed reference lineduring the rotation of said plate with the spindle. v V

3. A device for determining the caster and king pin slant of a dirigiblewheel comprising: 'a graduated arcuate spirit level gauge provided withmeans for adjustably securing it either parallel with a wheel spindle orat right angles thereto;

a graduated turning radius plate adapted to be I fixed to said spindle;a pointer swiveled to said plate; and a parallelogram assembly securedat one end to said pointer and adapted to be secured at its oppositefree end to a fixed reference point.

4. A device for determining the caster and king pin slant of a'dirigible wheel comprising: a graduated arcuate spirit level gauge; aring clamp adapted to be secured to a wheel spindle; means foradjustably securing the gauge to the clamp either parallel with the axisof the spindle or at right angles thereto; a graduated turning radiusplate adapted to be fixed to said clamp; a pointer swiveled to saidplate; and a parallelogram-assembly secured at one end tosaid pointerand adapted to be secured at its opposite free end to a fixed referencepoint.

5. A spirit level gauge comprising a pedestal; a cross-member integralwith said pedestal; a

bore extending thru said pedestal and crossmember and a counter-boreformed in the upper faceof the cross-member; a graduated spirit levelpivoted to one end of said cross-member sor as to move in a verticalplane; a screw pivoted at one end to said spirit level and having itsfree end extending into said bore; a nut threaded on said screw anddisposed in said counter bore; and-means for holding said nut withinsaidrcounterbore so that a rotary movement of, the nut will cause thescrew to move vertically. 1

6. A spirit level gauge comprising; a flanged pedestalprovided on'theupper face of its flange with right angularly-disposedribs and with anaccurately machined base; a cross-member inte- -gral with said pedestaland having an upwardly extending guide member at one end; a boreextending thru'said pedestal and cross-member and acounter-bore formedin the upper face of the cross-member; a graduated spirit level pivotedto the end of said cross-member opposite its upwardly extending guidemember, the free endof -said spirit level being bifurcated and adaptedto straddle said guide member; a screw pivoted at one end to said spiritlevel and extending into said bore; a nut threaded on said screw anddisposed in said counter-bore; and means for holding said 'nutwithinsaid counter-bore so that a rotary movement of the nut will cause thescrew to m vertically, h 1 g 7. A'device for determining the turningradius v of a dirigiblewheel comprising a graduated sector adaptedto besecured toa wheel spindle in a plane parallel to the axis of saidspindle; a pointer pivoted to the vertex of said sector; and means forholding said pointer in parallelism with a fixed reference line. 1 I

8. A device for determining the turning radius pivoted to the vertex ofsaid sector; and a double parallelogram secured at one end to saidpointer and adapted to be secured at its opposite end'to' a fixedreference point.

10. A device for determining the turning radius of a dirigible wheelcomprising: a graduated sector; a pointer; said sector and pointefbeingpivoted together for relative motion; means for securing one of thesemembers to a wheel'spindle in a plane parallel to the axis ofjsaidspindle;.

and means for maintainingthe other memberin' parallelism with a fixedreference line;

11. A device fordetermining the turmngradius of a dirigible wheelcomprising: a graduated sector; a pointer pivoted to the vertex of saidsector; means for securing one of said members" i to'a wheel spindle ina plane parallel to the axis of said spindle; and a double parallelogramse'- cured at one end to the other memberand adapted to be-secured atitsopposite endto a V fixed reference point.

' CHARLES G; so'rroN;

